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theguardian.com
Trump raises tariffs to 15% on imports from all countries
President announced increase from 10% using different authority from mechanism that supreme court struck down on FridayDonald Trump announced on Saturday that he would raise a temporary tariff rate on US imports from all countries from 10% to 15%, less than 24 hours after the US supreme court ruled against the legality of his flagship trade policy.Infuriated by the high court’s ruling on Friday that he had exceeded his authority and should have gotten congressional approval for the tariffs, the US president railed against the justices who blocked his use of tariffs, calling them a “disgrace to the nation”, and ordered an immediate 10% tariff on all imports, in addition to any existing levies. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trump says he will increase global tariffs to 15%
After the Supreme Court outlawed most of his tariffs on Friday, Trump announced new global tariffs of 10%. On Saturday he said he would increase these to 15%.
cnbc.com
Berkshire was a net seller of stocks in Buffett's final quarter as CEO
During Warren Buffett's last quarter as CEO, Berkshire Hathaway sold more equities than it bought, continuing to whittle away at its big Apple and Bank of America stakes and slashing its already modest Amazon.com holding.
theguardian.com
Don’t be fooled by recent good news, the UK economy is still in a precarious state
Labour MPs may clamour for bolder spending, but – like their Tory and Reform counterparts – they ask for the unaffordableToo many Labour MPs want it all, and no amount of pleading from the top of government about the depleted public finances seems to make a difference.The mainly leftist MPs want all the wrongs of the last 15 years put right and quickly. Their next opportunity to demand more cash arrives when Rachel Reeves delivers her spring statement on 3 March. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Market volatility trap? Why this income-first strategy may 'leave a lot on the table'
The market volatility may be leading retail investors astray.
bbc.com
MPs to discuss inquiry into trade envoy role after Andrew arrest
A cross-party committee will also look into the appointment and accountability of UK trade envoys.
cnbc.com
The 18 highest-paying college majors 5 years after graduation
Engineering majors typically earn more than $75,000 within five years of graduating from college, placing them among the highest-paid graduates.
theguardian.com
US farmers are rejecting multimillion-dollar datacenter bids for their land: ‘I’m not for sale’
Families are navigating the tough choice between unimaginable riches and the identity that comes with landWhen two men knocked on Ida Huddleston’s door last May, they carried a contract worth more than $33m in exchange for the Kentucky farm that had fed her family for centuries.According to Huddleston, the men’s client, an unnamed “Fortune 100 company”, sought her 650 acres (260 hectares) in Mason county for an unspecified industrial development. Finding out any more would require signing a non-disclosure agreement. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s global tariffs have finally been overturned. What next? | Steven Greenhouse
The US supreme court ruled against the president. Let’s hope the court removes its pro-Trump glasses on other issues and stands up for the rule of lawThere’s no denying that the US supreme court’s long-awaited ruling that overturned Donald Trump’s global tariffs is important, and if the ruling turns out to be a harbinger that the court is ready to abandon its startling sycophancy toward the US president, it could prove hugely important. The ruling this Friday is the first time during Trump’s second term that the justices have struck down one of his policies. Not only that, the policy they struck down is Trump’s signature economic policy – he has used tariffs to bash, lord over and terrorize dozens of other countries and make himself the King of the Economic Jungle.In the court’s main opinion, joined by three conservative justices and three liberals, chief justice John Roberts used some sharp language to slap down Trump’s tariffs, writing that the constitution specifically gives Congress, not the president, the power to impose taxes and tariffs. (Roberts noted that tariffs are indeed taxes.)Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labour and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Cemented locks and deflated diggers: the war over privately run allotments
With waits for council plots in England decades-long, Roots is renting out green space – but some communities are digging inWhen police arrived at the field outside Bristol in October 2023, two old cars, wheels removed, were blockading the gates. Protesters had hauled them across the entrance to stop developers building on the slice of north Somerset green belt. The threat was not housing or industry, but a company building vegetable patches.Roots builds privatised allotments to give city dwelling customers a place to grow food. It was co-founded in 2021 by Christian Samuel, Ed Morrison and William Gay, who were frustrated by a 28-year waiting list for a plot in their area of Streatham, south London. “We thought: ‘This is crazy’,” says Samuel, 32. “‘Why don’t we just build our own?’” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Reimagining matter’: Nobel laureate invents machine that harvests water from dry air
Omar Yaghi’s invention uses ambient thermal energy and can generate up to 1,000 litres of clean water every dayA Nobel laureate’s environmentally friendly invention that provides clean water if central supplies are knocked out by a hurricane or drought could be a life saver for vulnerable islands, its founder says.The invention, by the chemist Prof Omar Yaghi, uses a type of science called reticular chemistry to create molecularly engineered materials, which can extract moisture from the air and harvest water even in arid and desert conditions. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump says he's considering limited military strike against Iran
The oil market's biggest fear is that a conflict between the U.S. and Iran could lead to a prolonged disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
Decline in remote jobs risks shutting disabled people out of work, study finds
Research project warns fall in homeworking roles could undermine efforts to reduce unemploymentA decline in the number of jobs for people who need to work remotely, including those with disabilities, could undermine the government’s efforts to reverse rising unemployment, according to a two-year study.More than eight in 10 respondents to a survey of working-age disabled people by researchers at Lancaster University said access to home working was essential or very important when looking for a new job. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The supreme court’s tariffs ruling puts Trump on notice with a bloody nose
The conservative-heavy court had largely given Trump everything he desired – until now, when two of his three nominees turned their back on himAfter an agonising year in which the US supreme court has stood aside and watched while Donald Trump has run roughshod over the constitutional separation of powers, the highest judicial panel has finally stirred itself to set boundaries on the president’s increasingly regal pose.Friday’s supreme court ruling declared Trump’s sweeping tariffs unlawful, yanking from the president the bloodied cudgel which he has used to beat foreign friend and foe alike. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. trading partners cheer Supreme Court tariff ruling — but businesses must still navigate 'murky waters'
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to strike down large parts of President Trump's tariff policies Friday.
bbc.com
Rare-breed horse centre cuts back amid cost woes
The stud continues but a visitor centre and cafe closes as the rare-breed centre takes stock.
cnbc.com
Chaos, confusion and $200 billion dreams: What I saw at India’s AI summit
India hosted one of the world's biggest AI events this week, but it was marred by impossible traffic and a lack of organization.
theguardian.com
‘Psychological torture’: Spanish tenants fight back against housing ‘harassment’
Court in Madrid will soon decide whether developers are using construction to force people out of their homesWhen the Madrid building where Jaime Oteyza had lived since 2012 was sold to an investment fund two years ago, a local tenants’ union swiftly warned him what to expect.First the tenants would be told that none of their rental contracts – regardless of their expiry date – would be renewed, the union said. Then, as the 50 or so families in the building grappled with what to do next, a series of construction projects would probably be launched in the building to ramp up pressure on them to leave. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Tech giants commit billions to Indian AI as New Delhi pushes for superpower status
Tech and world leaders flocked to New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit
theguardian.com
Survivor of financial abuse invited to advise ministers after Guardian report
City minister Lucy Rigby acts after woman faced repossession of house burned down by controlling husbandA woman who was nearly killed by her abusive husband has been invited to advise the government on measures to support victims of financial abuse after the Guardian highlighted her story last weekend.Francesca Onody was left homeless and penniless when her husband doused their cottage with petrol while she and her two children were inside. Her husband, Malcolm Baker, died when the property exploded. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Chelsea flower show seeks new charity sponsors after mystery donors end support
Exclusive: Project Giving Back, set up in 2022 to help charities exhibit show gardens, says this year will be its lastChelsea flower show is looking for new charity sponsors after the mystery philanthropic couple who have spent more than £23m on show gardens end their support.Project Giving Back was set up by two anonymous donors in 2022, and since then it has paid for 63 gardens at the most prestigious horticultural event in the world, held each summer at the Royal Hospital gardens in south-west London. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Making Tax Digital: are you ready for HMRC’s self-assessment shake-up?
Tax authorities warn sole traders and landlords to act, as the biggest change to self-assessment in decades loomsSpring is “the time of plans and projects”, wrote Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina. For hundreds of thousands of self-employed people and property owners, those words are ringing true – and have never felt more daunting.This spring, HM Revenue and Customs is introducing the biggest shake-up of the self-assessment tax system in decades. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Antiques auction selling neck shackles accused of ‘profiting from slavery’
Exclusive: Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy says treating these objects as collectors’ items ‘should be looked at in horror’An antiques auction selling chains linked to the enslavement of African people in Zanzibar has been accused of “profiting from slavery”.Neck irons dated to the Omani-Arab dominated trade in enslaved people in east Africa, which ended after African resistance and British pressure in the late 19th century, will go on sale this weekend in Scotland. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s trade envoy role?
Backed by Labour and Conservative figures, he was a controversial choice when appointed in 2001Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, bringing his former role as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment into focus. He denies any wrongdoing. But what was that role? Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Under water, in denial: is Europe drowning out the climate crisis?
Even as weather extremes worsen, the voices calling for the rolling back of environmental rules have grown louder and more influentialIn the timeless week between Christmas and the new year, two Spanish men in their early 50s – friends since childhood, popular around town – went to a restaurant and did not come home.Francisco Zea Bravo, a maths teacher active in a book club and rock band, and Antonio Morales Serrano, the owner of a popular cafe and ice-cream parlour, had gone to eat with friends in Málaga on Saturday 27 December. But as the pair drove back to Alhaurín el Grande that night, heavy rains turned the usually tranquil Fahala River into what the mayor would later call an “uncontrollable torrent”. Police found their van overturned the next day. Their bodies followed after an agonising search. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
MPs considering investigation into Andrew’s role as UK trade envoy
MPs will meet on Tuesday to discuss the former prince, as it emerged he pestered ministers for a bigger government roleAn influential committee of MPs could launch an inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as a UK trade envoy despite his arrest, it is understood, as it emerged that the disgraced former royal pestered ministers about getting a bigger government role.After his arrest on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the cross-party business and trade committee said it would meet next Tuesday to discuss a possible investigation into the role he held from 2001 to 2011. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Doubling down on meat’: is the UK’s love affair with vegetarian food over?
McDonald’s, Wagamama and others scale back plant-based choices in the UK in favour of ‘high-margin’ meat-led dishesIn 2021, vegetarianism and veganism were booming and menus reflected it. Restaurants and fast-food chains rapidly expanded their meat-free offerings, racing to meet growing demand from diners. McDonald’s launched its first plant-based burger, joining a wave of operators embracing non-meat options.Fast forward to 2026 and the landscape looks markedly different. Last month, the fast food chain announced it was axing most of its vegetarian range – sparing only its McPlant burger – owing to weak sales. Wagamama has removed some vegan dishes from its menu, while Domino’s has also scaled back its plant-based options. The final Veggie Pret, a standalone concept store from the high street sandwich chain that started in 2016, closed in February 2024. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Slow this thing down’: Sanders warns US has no clue about speed and scale of coming AI revolution
After meeting with unspecified tech leaders, senator calls for urgent policy action as companies race to build ever more powerful systemsBernie Sanders has warned that Congress and the American public have “not a clue” about the scale and speed of the coming AI revolution, pressing for urgent policy action to “slow this thing down” as tech companies race to build ever-more powerful systems.Speaking at Stanford University on Friday alongside congressman Ro Khanna after a series of meetings with industry leaders in California, Sanders was blunt about what he called the “most dangerous moment in the modern history of this country”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Microsoft Xbox chief Phil Spencer retires, replaced by AI executive Asha Sharma
Phil Spencer is retiring from Microsoft after joining the software company 38 years ago, and will be replaced by Instacart's former COO.
cnbc.com
Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs, rebuking president's signature economic policy
Trump, as recently as Thursday, has talked up the consequences of the Supreme Court striking down his tariffs prior to the seismic ruling.
cnbc.com
OpenAI resets spending expectations, tells investors compute target is around $600 billion by 2030
OpenAI told investors it's targeting roughly $600 billion in total compute spend by 2030, trying to clarify its plans after touting a $1.4 trillion figure.
bbc.com
Uncertainty for UK firms after US tariff ruling, experts say
UK firms are left in limbo after a court overrules many US tariffs but Donald Trump says he will reintroduce them
cnbc.com
Illiquid loans, investor demands: Blue Owl's software lending triggers another quake in private credit
Blue Owl, a direct lender specializing in loans to the software industry, said it had sold $1.4 billion of its loans to institutional investors at 99.7% of par value.
theguardian.com
Why the supreme court’s tariffs ruling is a win for world trade – but also tricky
The decision adds to economic uncertainty, as deals Donald Trump struck with other countries are upendedIt is refreshing to witness the US supreme court recover its spine and stand up to Donald Trump’s most extreme caprices. The 6-3 decision on Friday to strike down his barrage of tariffs on imports from virtually everywhere based on the preposterous argument that they addressed national emergencies will reassure the world that the US’s system of government – based on the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the rule of law – has not collapsed entirely.But let’s hold the (imported) champagne. The court’s ruling will not restore the United States to its former place as a reasonable, trustworthy player in the world economy. The rules-based economic architecture that underpinned the integration of the world economy over the decades that followed the second world war remains fractured. Trump is still intent on its disintegration. And he retains power to do so. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
National Parent Teacher Association breaks ties with Meta amid child-safety trials
Child-safety advocacy coalition ParentsSOS urged the National PTA to end other Big Tech partnerships due to safety and well-being concerns.
cnbc.com
How the Supreme Court's decision affects Apple and its $3.3 billion tariff bill
President Donald Trump's tariffs have cost the iPhone-maker about $1 billion each quarter.
theguardian.com
What will happen to Trump’s tariffs after supreme court verdict?
6-3 ruling against unilateral imposition of tariffs without congressional approval labelled a ‘disgrace’ by TrumpTrump illegally used executive power to impose global tariffs, supreme court rulesThe US supreme court has struck down Donald Trump’s flagship policy of imposing tariffs on foreign imports in his bid to revitalise American manufacturing. The US president has reportedly called the decision a “disgrace”. Here’s what it means, and what could happen next.With Associated Press Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil prices stable as Trump considers limited military strike against Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran "10 to 15" days to make a meaningful deal over its nuclear program — or “really bad things” will happen.
theguardian.com
Trump announces 10% global tariff after supreme court ruling – video
The US president says he will impose a 10% global tariff after the supreme court found his current use of tariffs illegal blocked it. Trump called the decision a disgrace Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump previewed weak GDP on Truth Social ahead of official data release
Trump has revealed economic data before its official release on multiple occasions, raising questions about possible policy violations
cnbc.com
Supreme Court Trump tariffs ruling could put U.S. on hook for $175 billion in refunds, estimate says
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in his dissent, warned that "the refund process" for tariffs "is likely to be a 'mess,'" citing oral arguments
bbc.com
UK agrees drone defence plan with four EU allies
The scheme will seek to take inspiration from Ukraine's drone manufacturing programme.
theguardian.com
AI hit: India hungry to harness US tech giants’ technology at Delhi summit
Narendra Modi’s thirst to supercharge economic growth is matched by US desire to inject AI into world’s biggest democracyIndia celebrates 80 years of independence from the UK in August 2027. At about that same moment, “early versions of true super intelligence” could emerge, Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, said this week.It’s a looming coincidence that raised a charged question at the AI Impact summit in Delhi, hosted by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi: can India avoid returning to the status of a vassal state when it imports AI to raise the prospects of its 1.4 billion people? Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Amazon’s cloud ‘hit by two outages caused by AI tools last year’
Reported issues at Amazon Web Services raise questions about firm’s use of artificial intelligence as it cuts staffAmazon’s huge cloud computing arm reportedly experienced at least two outages caused by its own artificial intelligence tools, raising questions about the company’s embrace of AI as it lays off human employees.A 13-hour interruption to Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) operations in December was caused by an AI agent, Kiro, autonomously choosing to “delete and then recreate” a part of its environment, the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Brighter UK economy gives Reeves a springboard for March statement
Record public finances accompany stronger retail sales and business activity but some analysts express cautionThe economic backdrop to Rachel Reeves’s upcoming spring statement appeared to brighten on Friday after a trio of reports painted a better-than-expected picture of the UK economy.Record monthly public finances, a surge in retail spending and accelerating business activity offered the most coherent picture of recovery since last autumn, economists said, and provided the chancellor with a more positive narrative before her 3 March statement. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European stocks close higher after U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs
European stocks finished higher on Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a sizeable chunk of U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariffs.
theguardian.com
Politico owner Axel Springer joins rival Telegraph bid led by Dovid Efune
Sale to Lord Rothermere, Daily Mail owner, referred to regulators on media plurality and competition groundsThe media company Axel Springer, the owner of Politico and Business Insider, has joined a rival bid for the Telegraph as a proposed £500m sale to the owner of the Daily Mail faces months of scrutiny from regulators.Axel Springer, which also owns Europe’s highest-circulation newspaper, Bild, has joined a consortium led by Dovid Efune, the British owner of the New York Sun, who has been pursuing the Telegraph titles for more than a year. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump could attack Iran in days — what's at stake for the oil market
President Trump has warned Iran that an attack would be "far worse" than the U.S. airstrikes that targeted its nuclear facilities last June.
bbc.com
Trump tariffs ripped up global trade order. What now?
If you think the Supreme Court ruling heralds a return to pre-Trump business as usual - think again.
bbc.com
KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge
Wingstop, Burger King, and others have walked away from an industry commitment to avoid using fast-growing chickens
cnbc.com
Fourth-quarter U.S. GDP up just 1.4%, badly missing estimate; inflation firms at 3%
The core PCE price index was expected to increase 3% from a year ago in December. GDP was projected to rise at a 2.5% pace in Q4.
theguardian.com
‘It’s survival of the fittest’: the UK kebab chain seeking an edge with robot slicers
German Doner Kebab aims to open at 25 new sites this year with self-service screens and healthy options aimed at gen Z They are already packing our groceries and delivering shopping. Now robots are coming to the kebab shop, alongside self-service screens and loyalty apps, as takeaways look for ways to tackle rising costs.German Doner Kebab (GDK), a perhaps surprisingly British-owned chain that has been springing up across the country, has turned to technology to keep its fast food business buzzing in the face of rising costs and tough times on the high street. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Nvidia is in talks to invest up to $30 billion in OpenAI, source says
The investment is separate from the $100 billion infrastructure agreement that OpenAI and Nvidia announced in September.
theguardian.com
Man receives £42,000 bill for data roaming charges after Morocco holiday
Andrew Alty thought O2 bill was a mistake, but daughter’s TikTok use allowed massive uncapped charges to accrueA small business owner was left facing a £42,000 bill that he said nearly bankrupted him after his daughter racked up data roaming charges while the family were on holiday in Morocco.Andrew Alty, who owns a curtains business, was in Marrakech when he received a bill for £22,000 from network provider O2, but at first he assumed it was a mistake. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Statistics chief complains to BBC over impersonation of staff in hit drama Industry
ONS tells broadcaster that depiction risks undermining interviewers’ ‘delicate relationship’ with the public Best known for its depiction of City traders as drug-addled, sex-crazed adrenaline junkies, the BBC hit series Industry has unexpectedly attracted criticism for its portrayal of doorstep data collectors.The head of the Office for National Statistics has written to the BBC criticising a recent episode in which characters falsely impersonate ONS employees on someone’s doorstep. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US economy slows in final months after turbulent year
Overall the economy grew 2.2% last year, holding up despite pressures from changes to tariff and immigration policy.
bbc.com
Asos co-founder dies after Thailand apartment block fall
Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000 and remained a significant shareholder after leaving the firm five years later.
theguardian.com
Is the share market headed toward a ‘SaaS-pocalypse’ – and what would that mean?
Software companies are facing major disruption from AI and investors are pulling back, wiping off billions in value – but does it spell the end for software-as-a-service?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAfter years of questioning whether artificial intelligence was creating a speculative market bubble, investors are now grappling with a new question: what if its hype is real?The “SaaS-pocalypse”, a trending term to describe the recent and dramatic sell-off in global software-as-a-service (SaaS) shares, is based on the idea that AI becomes so advanced that software becomes redundant. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Nascent tech, real fear: how AI anxiety is upending career ambitions
AI has convinced computer science students to shift majors and white-collar workers to change careers, while some are embracing itMatthew Ramirez started at Western Governors University as a computer science major in 2025, drawn by the promise of a high-paying, flexible career as a programmer. But as headlines mounted about tech layoffs and AI’s potential to replace entry-level coders, he began to question whether that path would actually lead to a job.When the 20-year-old interviewed for a datacenter technician role that June and never heard back, his doubts deepened. In December, Ramirez decided on what he thought was a safer bet: turning away from computer science entirely. He dropped his planned major to instead apply to nursing school. He comes from a family of nurses, and sees the field as more stable and harder to automate than coding. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Who's laughing now? China’s humanoid robots go from viral stumbles to kung fu flips in one year
Chinese humanoid robots are having a moment in the spotlight after a standout performance at the country's annual Spring Festival Gala.
bbc.com
Lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson goes into administration
Global Counsel's clients cut ties with the firm over Lord Mandelson's links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
bbc.com
When the retail staff can't help you
This customer might be feeling trolled, in this scene from Small Prophets.
bbc.com
New Year's sport supplement buying adds to January retail sales surge
Continuing strong sales from online jewellers after a recent spike in gold prices also helped drive the increase.
cnbc.com
The Tech Download: China’s AI surge — real threat or hype?
Tech leaders are increasingly paying attention to AI developments in the country.
theguardian.com
The way we watch rugby on TV is changing. What is coming next?
Do satellite channels have a future? Is free-to-air as important as it was? Will Netflix and Prime make moves?By No Helmets RequiredWhat were once a DVD postal service, an online bookstore and an American cable channel renowned for showing B movies in motel rooms are now heavyweights in the sports broadcasting market. Netflix and Amazon have changed the global landscape, leaving TNT Sports under pressure to hold on to its subscribers.I spent the last Super League off-season living in a stable (true story) with no access to satellite or cable, but still got my sports fix via free-to-air networks and subscriptions to Premier Sports, Prime Video and Netflix. I was fully sated on a diet of live rugby union, football, cricket, NFL and NBA – all for less than a Sky Sports or TNT subscription. So how will the increased competition between broadcasters affect league and union viewers? Continue reading...
bbc.com
Higher tax helped UK government reach record January surplus
The government took in more from tax receipts than expected, official data suggests.
theguardian.com
Fly-tipping dog caught on CCTV in Sicily – video
A man in Catania, Sicily, trained his dog to dump rubbish bags by the roadside in an attempt to outsmart anti-fly-tipping cameras, municipal police have said. The 'canine courier' was caught on newly installed surveillance footage, prompting officers to post the clip on the city’s official Facebook page with a pointed message: 'Inventiveness can never become an alibi for incivility.' The owner has since been identified and fined.Illegal dumping is a chronic problem across Italy, particularly in the south. Authorities recorded more than 9,300 waste-related offences in 2023 – a 66% increase on the previous year – as councils increasingly turn to camera traps and smart monitoring systems to catch offenders in the actMan in Sicily trained his dog to illegally dump rubbish, say police Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Canary in the coal mine': Blue Owl liquidity curbs fuel fears about private credit bubble
The private credit boom is facing a new test after Blue Owl Capital permanently restricted withdrawals from one of its retail-focused debt funds.
cnbc.com
Sumitomo Pharma shares plunge nearly 16% despite greenlight for Parkinson's treatment
Shares of Japan's Sumitomo Pharma fell over 15% on the back of profit-taking after a specialist panel endorsed its iPS cell-based therapy for Parkinson's disease.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: U.S. markets rocked by private credit worries and potential strike on Iran
Meanwhile, Blue Owl Capital tightened investor liquidity after selling $1.4 billion in loan assets, raising alarms about stability in the private credit market.
theguardian.com
Homes for sale with luscious lawns in England and Scotland – in pictures
From a former Georgian hospital in a Scottish Borders town to a converted greenhouse in the Kent countryside Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Amid Epstein fallout, Bill Gates becomes point of controversy at India AI summit
Bill Gates has become a point of controversy at a major Indian AI festival this week, amid the fallout of the latest Epstein file release.
bbc.com
Closing factory workers paid to help at food bank
Dutch coffee-making giant Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) will close its plant in Banbury this year.
cnbc.com
Alien files: Trump to order U.S. agencies to release documents on 'extraterrestrial life'
In a Truth Social post, the U.S. president said his move was based on the "tremendous interest" in the subject, without providing additional details.
bbc.com
Starmer 'appeasing' big tech firms, says online safety campaigner
Baroness Kidron tells the BBC the PM has being "late to the party" in regulating social media.
theguardian.com
France and Germany agreed to build the fighter jet of the future. Now they can’t agree who is in charge
FCAS, which also involves Spain, is imploding at a high-stakes moment for Europe, as threat rises from RussiaFrance and Germany’s plan to build a fighter jet of the future, planned to come with a swarm of drones and a “combat communications cloud”, is collapsing.Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said this week that the €100bn programme no longer worked for him. He insisted it was “not a political dispute”, but a technical one. France needs a jet that can carry nuclear weapons and launch from aircraft carriers, while Germany does not. However, the problems go back much further. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How ‘smog capital of Poland’ saved 6,000 lives by cutting soot levels
Kraków’s ban on burning solid fuels plus subsidies for cleaner heating has led to clearer air and better healthAs a child, Marcel Mazur had to hold his breath in parts of Kraków thick with “so much smoke you could see and smell it”. Now, as an allergy specialist at Jagiellonian University Medical College who treats patients struggling to breathe, he knows all too well the damage those toxic gases do inside the human body.“It’s not that we have this feeling that nothing can be done. But it’s difficult,” Mazur said. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Three Silicon Valley engineers charged with stealing Google trade secrets and sending data to Iran
A federal grand jury indicted three engineers on charges of stealing trade secrets from Google and other tech firms and transferring sensitive data to Iran.
cnbc.com
OpenAI and Anthropic’s rivalry on display as CEOs avoid holding hands at AI summit
OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei had an awkward moment at a major AI summit, with the two CEOs of competing AI giants opting not to link hands.
theguardian.com
Experience: I’m the last traditional clog maker in England
I cut small trees around Offa’s Dyke, then shape the wood by hand I never wanted to be part of an unsustainable society. I’ve always tried to live as peaceful a life as I can, outside the big cities. Now I am the last person left in England making clogs by hand. I spend most days in my studio in Kington, Herefordshire, carving green sycamore wood that I collect myself, hand-dyeing the leather and making sure the soles are as near perfect a match to someone’s foot as possible. I don’t think you can have a more peaceful life than that.I grew up in Ceredigion, surrounded by sheep. There were no jobs in the area and in 1976 I had to go on benefits. I developed extreme anxiety after breaking up with my first girlfriend. Convent schooling and boys’ boarding schools weren’t the best places to learn to develop relationships and I needed to find something therapeutic to do. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US and Indonesia finalise deal to cut tariffs to 19%
Washington will set a 19% tariff on most Indonesian goods in exchange for lower trade barriers for US goods
bbc.com
Nasa boss says Boeing Starliner failure one of worst in its history
The agency released a critical report that puts the Starliner incident at same mistake level assigned to the fatal Columbia and Challenger shuttle disasters.
bbc.com
Live Nation sees strong ticket sales as monopoly lawsuit looms
The entertainment giant's revenue surged last year as 159 million fans attended its concerts.
bbc.com
Epstein eyed record label investment to access women, files suggest
His associate said the music industry was "related to P", a way Epstein apparently often referred to women.
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
bbc.com
The Chinese AI app sending Hollywood into a panic
Clips of Deadpool and other film characters have sparked alarm within Hollywood over copyright infringement.
cnbc.com
Trump to decide whether to attack Iran in next 10 days — oil prices rise
The U.S. has launched a major military buildup in the Middle East is it threatens Iran with potential military strikes.
bbc.com
Microsoft error sees confidential emails exposed to AI tool Copilot
The company says it has addressed the issue and it "did not provide anyone access to information they weren't already authorised to see".
bbc.com
US trade deficit hits fresh high despite Trump's tariffs
The US bought more goods than it sold in 2025 as the White House attempts to reverse the flow.
bbc.com
Etsy sells second-hand fashion app Depop to eBay for $1.2bn
The "pre-loved" fashion firm has been sold by Etsy just five years after it bought the firm.
theguardian.com
‘We are the forgotten little town’: will disenchantment in Denton leave it ripe for Reform?
With Gorton split between Labour and Greens, division creates opportunity for Farage’s party in other side of constituency facing byelectionIf you’re unsure whether you’ve crossed the border from Manchester into Tameside, the Reform posters will probably give it away. In windows, on walls, and staked on garden posts, Denton is awash with turquoise blue as the 26 February byelection looms.Near the town centre, Ian Singleton and his wife, Irene, have one of Reform’s turquoise banners standing proudly in their front yard. Ian was born in Gorton, in Manchester, but for the best part of the last three decades, the couple have lived on the other side of the constituency, in Denton. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Warmer weather hits profits at British Gas owner
Savvy bill payers shopping around for fixed-tariff energy deals also dented earnings at British Gas.
theguardian.com
Reporter confronts Melksham councillors over punchbag bearing his face found in town hall – video
The journalist Joe McCann brought a photograph of the punchbag bearing his image to a council meeting in the Wiltshire town of Melksham, demanding an explanation. One councillor apologised 'unreservedly' for what he described as a 'bad joke'An earlier headline incorrectly stated that the councillors were members of Wiltshire Council. The video was recorded at Melksham Town Council. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why there's no quick fix in sight for the problem of dazzling headlights
Road users say headlight glare is an issue - but experts warn a solution might not be straightforward.
bbc.com
'We're still on edge': Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs hit profits
"You cannot go to sleep on this president," says one toymaker, of the ongoing uncertainty over trade policy.
bbc.com
Zuckerberg defends Meta in landmark social media addiction trial
The billionaire boss said he "always" regretted not making faster progress to identify users under 13.
bbc.com
Reeves fixated on 'dysfunctional' borrowing rules, says IFS
The think tank suggests the chancellor's fiscal rules need to shift the focus from one key figure.
bbc.com
Tech firms will have 48 hours to remove abusive images under new law
The government is proposing that intimate image abuse should be treated more severely.
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
theguardian.com
Britons living in EU face repayment hikes amid Reeves student loans row
Exclusive: UK graduates in Germany, Belgium and possibly other countries informed of rises as salary threshold is cutBritons living in some European countries face a huge rise in their student loan repayments later this year, the Guardian can reveal, in a move that threatens to trigger a fresh backlash for Rachel Reeves.UK graduates working in Germany and Belgium – and possibly other countries – have been told that their monthly repayments will increase from April, the Guardian can reveal. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Are UK interest rates expected to fall soon?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
theguardian.com
Should we be impressed or worried by China's humanoid robot display? – video
China Media Group's 2026 Spring Festival Gala drew widespread attention with a performance of humanoid robots that appeared to do martial arts alongside young performers. However, as the videos spread, viewers expressed both admiration and unease over the accelerating development of the machines. Experts have mixed views. China’s dancing robots: how worried should we be? Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why youth unemployment is rising
Unemployment in the UK rose to its highest rate in nearly five years at the end of 2025
bbc.com
Netflix and Paramount are battling for Warner Bros. Who is likely to win?
What to know about the two firms' blockbuster battle to control Warner Bros Discovery.
bbc.co.uk
File on 4 Investigates
Can boxing do more to look after its fighters?
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
Why you should consider switching bank accounts
Martin Lewis explains why now might be a good time to think about changing your bank account.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets
Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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